CLEVELAND — A Democratic super PAC has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging that the Trump campaign broke federal election law by using his corporation to advance his presidential campaign.
The complaint was filed after Meredith McIver took the blame for cribbing parts of Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech for Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention Monday night.
The complaint, filed by a grassroots-based super PAC formed this spring called the Democratic Coalition Against Trump, says McIver’s involvement in the speechwriting is a violation of campaign finance law because she has received no compensation from the campaign but is an employee of the Trump Organization. The campaign is expected to list all in-kind contributions of goods and services in campaign finance reports.
"This incident is reminiscent of the John Edwards campaign finance scandal, which likewise involved work paid for by a corporation for a presidential campaign. As such, it is very troubling,” Jon Cooper, chairman of the Coalition, said.
Related: Staff Writer Takes the Blame for Melania Trump Speech
The complaint assumes that McIver has received compensation from the Trump Organization — in part because in a statement released to the press, McIver said she offered her resignation to Trump but he rejected it.
The letter released to the press was on Trump Organization, and not Trump campaign, letterhead.
“There is reason to believe that Meredith McIver has been performing Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. campaign duties and is being compensated by the Trump Organization for those duties, and not by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.,” the complaint reads.
“There is reason to believe that the Trump Organization is using its corporate name in other ways, and potentially is using its corporate name to facilitate contributions to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.,” it continues.
However, the ideologically divided FEC is often deadlocked on issues, rendering the oversight committee toothless.
